Its director-general, Akma Ngah Hamid, said imports increased by 41.7%, rising from 295,000kg in 2020 to 1.58 million kg in 2023.

“Malaysia sources gelatine from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and India, with all DVS-approved plants using bovine origins,” she told FMT.

Akma said animal products, including gelatine, can only be imported with a permit from the Malaysian quarantine and inspection services department (Maqis).

“The import requirements must be met before the product can be brought into Malaysia.

“Compliance measures will be monitored by Maqis through the inspection of import permits and goods at the country’s entry points,” she said.

In June last year, 18 tonnes of gelatine from Pakistan were seized by Selangor Maqis while being smuggled through Port Klang.

Selangor Maqis director Sobri Md Hashim said the gelatine, valued at more than RM635,000, did not meet the treatment conditions specified in the import permit.

In April 2022, Maqis thwarted an attempt to smuggle 3,000kg of bovine gelatine from China.

State director Ikram Abd Talib said the bovine gelatine, valued at more than RM40,300, was brought in without a valid import permit.

He said the gelatine was intended for the local industry.